VIRGINIA — A Hibbing man has been sentenced to just under 10 years for the 2012 death of his former girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter.

Judge Jim Florey gave 27-year-old Russell Shannon Johnson the maximum sentence Thursday.

A tearful Johnson apologized in court, saying he was “very truly sorry for what happened.”

Johnson initially was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Caroline Medicine-Chavez. He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The girl died of head trauma in March 2012. According to the complaint, Johnson was alone with the girl. He initially told police that Caroline fell and hit her head.

Charges weren’t brought until last year, when a woman told investigators that Johnson told her he had pushed the girl.